Cabot cooking for 1,000 in attempt to sell its gas story

Aug. 13, 2010

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Scarred by hefty fines and ruined water wells, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation has some work ahead as it continues its attempt to get back in the public's good graces.

Free food and "family fun" may be a step in the right direction, the company hopes.

Cabot will hold a community picnic at Montrose Area High School in Susquehanna County, Pa., Saturday, inviting the public to turn out to learn about the company's drilling efforts and to chow down on free barbecue fare.

"We are hoping to create an opportunity for those who haven't had a chance to do a rig tour to get a better, close-up understanding of the equipment we use, the people that use that equipment, and the professionalism that goes into it," said company spokesman George Stark.

"We encourage people to come out because we think we have a wonderful story to tell and would like them to see it up front."

Stark said geologists and workers representing all facets of the drilling process will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be stations for kids as well, including a bounce house. Other organizations, including the Penn State Cooperative Extension, will be on hand, as well.

Food will be available for 1,000 people, Stark said.

It has been a bumpy road for Cabot since it began drilling in Pennsylvania two years ago. The state's Department of Environmental Protection has held the company responsible for a series of 14 water wells that were ruined near its drill sites in Dimock. Fifteen people have sued the company as a result, and the DEP has levied more than $240,000 in fines and twice suspended the company's drilling operations.

Both pro- and anti-drillers are expected to turn out for the event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to the general public. Anti-drilling and environmental groups were told by police Friday that mounted officers will be present, and those wishing to protest will be placed in an area by the high school's tennis courts.

Vera Scroggins, a Montrose activist for Citizens for Clean Water, said she will attend the event and ask questions, as well as inform people about the goals of her group and its website.

"I basically want to hear from Cabot that they can guarantee that there is no polluting of our water, land and air from their gas extraction process," Scroggins said. "And if they can't guarantee that, then I feel they should go back and try and re-evaluate and reformulate their process so it can be pollution free, not to the high extent that it is polluting now."

Some New York landowners also said they were going to make the trip south to learn more about Cabot and the drilling process in general.

"I want to see what Cabot's suppliers have to say," said Bob Williams, a Windsor landowner who works as an environmental consultant. "I want to talk to them and see what their process is and how they control it."

Stark said anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of their feelings on gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, a technique used in shale drilling in which a mix of water, sand and chemicals are blasted deep underground to break up rock and release natural gas. Pennsylvania currently allows high-volume hydrofracking, while New York has placed the practice on hold as it reviews its policies and regulations.

"What I would encourage people to do is if they have questions to come out and learn about our operation," Stark said. "Give us the opportunity to explain what we do, and talk to the professionals that do it."